Ink pumping mechanism for rotary printing presses



2,672.81; INK PUMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 24 1951 March 23, 1954 H. J. LUEHRS m T N E V m ATTORNEYS H. J. LUEHRS INK PUMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSE$ March 23, 1954 Filed Nov. 24, 1951 m INVENTOR f% f% ATTORNEY March 23, 1954 H. J. LUEHRS INK PUMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 24, 1951 91 lmqqq \9 L0 INVENTOR ATTORNEY" March 23, 1954 Filed Nov. 24, 1951 H. J. 'LUEHRS 2,672,812 INK PUMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRES-SE8 4 "'si-i tssneet a ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1954 INK PUMPING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly, R. L, assignor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. 1., a

corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1951, Serial No. 258,053

16 Claims. 1

My invention is directed to certain improvements in inking mechanism for rotary printing presses of the type Where the ink is pumped in regulable quantities from an ink supply tank to an ink distribution cylinder.

One object of my invention is to provide individually detachable ink pumping units of novel construction in which each of the pumping units includes a novel combined valve and plunger motion which may be timed with respect to the other pumping units to ensure a uniform flow of power and a continuous supply of ink to the ink distribution cylinder from an ink supply tank.

Another object is to provide a single shaft for driving all of the pumping units.

Another object is to provide novel means for independently adjusting the ink pumping units to ensure the proper amount of ink supply from each pumping unit.

Another object is to provide novel means for independently silencing a group of ink pumping units.

Another object is to provide for a slight reciprocation of the valve plungers, when the supply of ink is cut off, to prevent the sticking of the parts due to the hardening of the ink.

Another object is to provide means whereby the working parts are partially submerged in a lubricant to minimize corrosive action of the ink on the said working parts.

Another object is to provide vertically disposed flared ink discharge nozzles for directing the ink upwardly against the bottom of the ink distribution cylinder Where the ink will be most effective in covering the surface of the cylinder and will prevent drainage after the supply is out off.

Another object is to provide a novel vertically divided ink rail in which the upwardly flared ink discharge nozzles will be located in the inner face of the removable outer ink rail member for ready cleaning of the nozzles and the ink discharge passages.

Another object is to provide an efficient device for agitating the ink in the ink supply tank, especially where heavy inks are employed, the said agitator being readily removable endwise through the drainage outlet of the ink supply tank.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a detail front view, partly in section, of the work side of my improved inking mechanism Fig. 2 representsa similar view of the gear side of the inking mechanism;

Fig. 3 represents a detail vertical cross section cylinder I.

2 taken in the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the pumping valve being shown at the middle of its stroke with the valve port located between and cut off from both the ink supply passage and the ink discharge passage;

Fig. 4. represents a similar detail section with the valve in its position to open its valve port to the ink supply passage and cut ofi from the ink discharge passage;

Fig. 5 represents a similar detail section with the valve port open to the ink discharge passage and cut off from the ink supply passage.

The ink distribution cylinder is denoted by l and its end shafts by 2, 3, which cylinder may be of either the vibrating or non-vibrating type, as desired.

The ink supply tank 4 extends along one side of the ink distribution cylinderl between the side frames 5, 8. The bottom i of the tank 4 is inclined downwardly and inwardly from the outer vertical side 8 toward the said ink distribution The inner uprising side 9 of the ink supply tank is curved to conform to the adjacent side of the cylinder l and is spaced a short distance therefrom.

The ink rail, which is located beneath the ink distribution cylinder I is divided vertically into inner and outer ink rail members I0, I I; the concave tops of which members conform to and are slightly spaced from the bottom of the ink distribution cylinder 1 to permit the ink which is pumped thereto to be retained thereon.

The inner rail member Il] may be secured by bolts l2 to the outer vertical face of the dependent flange 13 of the ink supply tank ii and the outer rail member H may be removably secured by bolts Hi to the outer vertical face of the inner rail member II].

The ink pumping units are located beneath and exterior to the ink supply tank 4. These pumping units are preferably arranged in aligned groups.

The rotary shaft 15 for driving all of the ink pumping units is mounted, preferably by antifriction bearings it, in brackets I! secured to the upper flange member l8 depending from the bot- .tom 1 of the ink supply tank 4, which upper flange As the ink pumping units are the same in construction, arrangement and operation, one only of said pumping units will be specifically described herein.

Each ink pumping unit includes an eccentric 24 which is secured, as by a set screw 25, in the proper srotative position with respect to the reccentrics of the other pumping units of agroup-to avoid torque complications. A strap 26 surrounds the eccentric 24, the free end of the strap arm 2 being pivoted at 28 to the adjacentlend ofahori- Zontally disposed valve 29 slidable in the valve casing 39, which casing may be secured to the bottom of the ink supply tank-4 as follows:

This valve casing 30 is surmounted by a base -31 which is held securely in a shallow groove 32 in the underside of the ink supplytank 4,2by bevelling the outer and inner edges of the base as shown at 33 and 34. The outer beveled edge "3-3'of the base is engaged by the reverse beveled outer wall of the shallow :groove '32 and the inner beveled edge 34 of the base is engaged by the beveled edge of a filler :piece 35 secured in :said groove 'by'a screw bolt 36.

This slide valve 1-29, which is herein shown as cylindrical in cross section, is provided with a vertical valve port 31 therethroug'h tor the reception of a sliding-plunger 38 which is pivoted at 39 to the upper end-of :a swinging .l'ink 49, the lower end of which link is pivoted at "4! to the inner shortarm 4 2 of a rock lever pivotediat '43 between aapair-oflugs 44 depending from the valve casing 39. 'T-he long arm-25 of the said :rock lever is normally hld by aspr ing lfi against the lower end o'f an adjusting thumb screw '46 in position to be engaged by the eccentric strap 26, said coil spring 46 being located between the bottom-'of'the valve casing 30 and the shortlever arm 42. This adjustin screw -'4B'* -is threaded through =one of the flange members 29, and may be turned to rock the *lever arm 45 downwardlyaway from the eccentric strap 26 to vary the stroke of the plunger '38 in the valve port "31, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A short vertical in k supply passage 4 leads downwardly from the interior of the ink supply tank -4 to the upper side -of the sliding valve 29 in 'position'to coincide with the valve port 3 when the valve 29 is moved to the limit of its inward movement toward the shaft I 5.

The ink discharge passage 48 leads upwardly from the upper side of the said sliding valve 29 and thence horizontally through the ink supply tank and the inner ink rail Hi to an upwardly flared .ink discharge nozzle '49 in *the adjacent "vertical wall of "the removable outer ink rail member I I. The inner end of this :ink discharge passage 48 is positioned to coincide with the valve port 31 when the valve 29 is moved to the limit of its outward movement away from the rotary shaft l5.

The manually operatedmeans for silencing a ,page group of the pumping units simultaneously is constructed, arranged and operated as follows:

it rock shaft J5| is provided for each group of pumping units, which shaft is mounted in two spaced bearing brackets suspended'from vtwo of 2141c flange bridges 19 by bolts :53 and their nuts .A plurality of lever ;a,rms:55 .(one for each pumping unit) ,arefixedon the rock shaft 51 in position to be swung by a single hand lever '55,, .also fixed to the rock shaft 151 to renga'geand depress (the lever arms 45 -.outoicontact witheccentric straps .26and1-hold the lever arms in ltheirrdepressedposi tions. This downward movement of the lever arms 45 will raise the short lever arms 42 thereby causing the valve plungers 38 to be lifted to a position which will substantially close the valve ports 31. These lever arms 45 may be provided with recesses 51, if desired, to releasably retain the lever arms '46 in theirdepressed positions.

It will be noted that when the pumping units are silenced to prevent the pumping of ink to the ink distribution cylinder I the reciprocation of the valves '29 will .-rock the plunger link 49 to slightly reciprocate the plungers 38 for imparting a pulsing action on the ink in the supply and discharge passages 41, -48 to prevent solidification of the-ink therein, thereby eliminating the necessity forirequen't cleaning of said passages.

Anoiltank .53iis located beneath the ink supply tank4 in position to lubricate all the ink pumping 'units and to protect their bearing surfaces from the injurious action of certain inks. This oil tank 58 is :shown as bein removably supported along'its innersi'de 'bya flange 59 projecting outwardly :from ;the "bottom of the depending flange [3. The :outerrsideof this oil tank is shown as removably securedfto thefia-nge member 29 by thumb screws '69.

The means which :I have shown :for manually turning the rotary shaft 1 5 when desired to force an initial supply of ink %to the ink distribution cylinder .1 comprises a :crank operated additional :shaft 6-1! which :is aligned with the shaft l5, said additional :shaft 6| having a one way clutch 62,

63 for operatively connecting the adjacent ends "of the two shafts B I and I 5.

With heavy ink fit-inlay be necessary to provide means for agitating the ink :in the ink supply :tank dwhen the printing press is in operation. The agitator "which :I have shown for this pur pose comprises a screw conveyor 64 extending along the lowest apart of the ink supply tank l, from end "to end :thereof, the adjacent walls of the bottom of the tank being curved to conform :tothe periphery of the :screw conveyor '64. The shaft 65,-ofvthe1agitatormaybeturned from any :suitable power means, not shown herein. When the press is shut down the screw conveyor 64 may be used also expel heavy pigmented inks from the inksupply tank :4 through the drainage hole 1-56 :at one :end-of the :ink supply tank 4. This screw conveyor 64 may also be removed through said drainage hole to facilitate the cleaning :of the tank 4. A suitable removable cover 61 may be provided for closing said ink drainage hole -.66. 1

In operation,rthe eccentrics 24 may be rotatably adjusted around their :shaft 15 so that a sub :stantiallycontinuous flow of ink will be pumped to the ink distribntion cylinder l.

The throw .of the valve plungers 33 may also beadiu'sted by use of the thumb screws 46 which engage the arms 45 of :the rock levers which reciprocate the plungers 38, thereby supplying the ink in regularable quantities to the ink distribution cylinder l. The rotation of the shaft 15 will cause :each pump valve 29 to reciprocate to bring its port 31 into alternate communication "with the ink supply passage 41 and the ink "discharge passage 48. While valve port 3! is open to the ink supply passage 4?, the valve plunger as will be withdrawn to fill the valve port 31 with ink from the supply tank 4 by suction. As the valve 29 advances to bring the valve port 3'! into communication with the discharge passage 48 'the-upward-mpvementof the plunger 38 will .force, the ink -throughth'e said discharge passage 48 to and through the upwardly flared nozzle 49 to the bottom of the ink distribution cylinder I. It will be noted that the eccentric strap 26 not only reciprocates the valve 29 but also rocks the lever arms 45, 42, to reciprocate the plunger 38. When it is desired to silence a group of the ink pumping units the hand lever 56 is raised to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby causing the arms 55 to engage and depress the rock lever arms out of contact with the eccentric straps 253.

When the supply of ink is cut oil, the continued reciprocation of the valves 29 by the rotation of the eccentrics 24 will be sufficient to cause the links 463 to slightly reciprocate the plungers 38 and thereby prevent the sticking of the parts due to the hardening ink.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and hence it is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiment shown and described herein.

What I claim is:

1. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located. beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge p ssage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder.

2. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink havits top wall curved to conform to the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank having its inner uprising wall curved to conform. to the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder.

3. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port thenethrough; a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating valveand plunger to draw the ink from the tank andto force the ink upwards to the bottom 6 of the cylinder, said ink pumping units being separately detachable.

4. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said ink pumping units being separately operated.

5. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port, therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valveand an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said supply and discharge passages being located in the same vertical plane at right angles to said cylinder.

6. A ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric thereon connected to said valve, and a lever connected to said plunger and positioned to be rocked by said eccentric.

'7. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a, plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinangers 7 der, said "means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric thereon connected to said valve, and a spring-pressed 'rocklever connected to said plunger and positioned to 'be rocked by said eccentric.

8. An ink distribution cylindenanfink rail extending along the "bottom of'the' cylinder, an ink supply tank extending'along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of inkpumpingun'its located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed atright angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, 'an'ink'supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage lead- .i'ng'fr'om'lth'e upper side of the valve through the tank and ink'rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards-to the bottom of the cylinder, saidmeans includinga rotary shaft, aneccentric thereon connected to' the said valve, a lever having one arm positioned to be rocked by said eccentric, and'a link pivotally connecting the other arm of the lever to the plunger.

'9. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply .tank'extending along the side of the cylinder substantially'the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the'cylinder and having-a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and .an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, andmeans for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom .of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric thereon connected to said valve and 'a lever con nected to said plunger and positioned tobe rocked by said eccentric, and an adjusting device for engaging said lever to varyiits 'stroke.

10. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper-side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric thereon connected to said valve and a lever connectedlto said plunger "andpositioned to be rocked 'by said eccentric, and a'devic'e for engaging said lever to rock it out of contact with said eccentric to silence the pumping unit.

11. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending alongthe side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumpingiun'its"located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles'to the cylinder-and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric thereon connected to said valve and a lever connected to said plunger and positioned to be rocked by said eccentric, and a device for simultaneously "engaging a plurality of said levers to swing them out of contact with their eccentrics for silencing the pumping units.

12. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough, a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through the bottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank andink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to 'draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an

eccentric thereon connected to said valve and a lever connected to said plunger and positioned to be rocked by said eccentric, and a 'device for engaging said lever to vary its stroke, and a separate device for simultaneously engaging a plurality of said levers to swing them out of contact with their eccentrics for silencing the pumping units.

13. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink rail extending along the bottom of the cylinder, an ink supply tank extending along the side of the cylinder substantially the length thereof, a plurality of ink pumping units located beneath said tank, each pumping unit including a horizontal valve disposed at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port therethrough,

a plunger therein, an ink supply passage leading downwards through thebottom of the tank to the upper side of the valve and an ink discharge passage leading from the upper side of the valve through the tank and ink rail to the bottom of the cylinder, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger to draw the ink from the tank and to force the ink upwards to the bottom of the cylinder, said means including a rotary shaft, an eccentric rotatably adjustableithere'on, a strap surrounding the eccentric and pivoted to the ad-.

an ink supply tank, a plurality of pumping units located beneath the ink supply tank, "each pumping unit including a valve casing depending from the tank, a valve reciprocable in the casing at right angles to the cylinder and having a vertical cross-port, a plunger reciprocable therein,

ink supply and discharge passages connecting the valve with thetank and cylinder respectively, and means for reciprocating said valve and plunger including a rotary shaft mounted by said tank underneath the same, an eccentric on said shaft operatively connected to said valve, and a spring-pressed rock-lever pivoted to said valve casing and having one arm connected to the said plunger, the other arm of said lever being positioned to be rocked by said eccentric.

15. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink supply tank having an ink drainag hole through one end thereof, a plurality of pumping units for drawing the ink from the said tank and forcing it to said cylinder, and a rotary agitator of the screw conveyor type located along the lowest part of the ink supply tank for agitating the ink therein, said agitator being separately operable, when the pumping units are silenced, to expel the ink remaining in the tank, through said drainage hole.

16. An ink distribution cylinder, an ink supply tank having an ink drainage hole through one end thereof, a plurality of pumping units for drawing the ink from the said tank and forcing it to said cylinder, and a rotary agitator 0f the screw conveyor type located along the lowest part of the ink supply tank for agitating the ink therein, said agitator being separately operable, when the pumping units are silenced, to expel the ink remaining in the tank, through said drainage hole, the agitator being also removable through the drainage hole to facilitate the cleaning of the tank when so desired.

HANS J. LUEHRS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

